In a significant policy shift, Canadian Immigration Minster Marc Miller has announced the end of temporary COVID-era provision allowing international students to work unlimited off-campus hours during their studies. Effective from April 30, 2024, the previous policy limiting students to 24 hours of off-campus work per week will be reinstated.
Nonetheless, starting September 2024, a new policy will come into effect, allowing international students to work up to 24 hours per week off-campus. Until then, the 20-hour weekly limit remains intact whiles classes are in session.
The decision follows deliberation over whether to extend the temporary provision, allowing students to work up to 40 hours per week or to implement a cap of 30 hours. Ultimately, a 24-hour weekly limit was chosen for several important reasons:
While students can continue working unlimited hours during breaks and summer holidays, the new 24-hour weekly limit represents a significant change for many international students in Canada. According to CBC News, 80% of international students currently work more than 20 hours a week. Miller emphasized the alignment of Canada’s rules with international best practices, citing research indicating that exceeding 30 hours per week adversely affects academic performances. In line with the announcement, the Canadian government provided “Quick Facts”, underscoring and highlighting findings from studies in the US and Canada and demonstrating a decline in academic performance for students working over 28 hours per week. Most countries hosting international students enforces limits on work hours during studies.
Furthermore, there are revised financial requirements for international students applying to study in Canada, with each applicant now needing CDN $20.635 (US $14,930) plus the first-year tuition and additional funds for other expenses. The financial threshold increases for applicants with additional family members.
The adjustments aim to strike balance between allowing international students to work while safeguarding their academic pursuits and ensuring Canada’s attractiveness as a study destination. Share your thoughts regarding on this in the comments below.